tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30472001106346500302024-03-13T19:46:50.195+00:00Need Another HolidayFull-time job. Part-time travel.
You can still see the world with style.
A travel blog for holiday-makers and trip-takers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-1908761790573985522013-03-07T22:15:00.000+00:002013-03-07T22:15:07.444+00:00A New Home for Need Another Holiday<div>
Need Another Holiday has moved! </div>
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March is here, and I've decided that it's time for a Spring clean
of the blog, so what could be better than a new logo and a new website?</div>
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Please follow me to the brand new <a href="http://needanotherholiday.com/" target="_blank">NeedAnotherHoliday</a> and take a minute to subscribe on the new site.</div>
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Pop over right now, and have a look! </div>
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Happy travels!</div>
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Clare</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-66695676989117474522013-02-16T10:20:00.000+00:002013-02-16T10:23:11.352+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: Millport Beach in ScotlandJust off the Ayrshire coast is the Isle of Great Cumbrae and the seaside town of Millport. <b>A favourite for day-trippers, there's a lot to like about this lovely, little place.</b><br />
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This weekend's photo is of Millport beach, on an August day.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCrMkwxUSkbQS4QkqHQ70jpjpqDb-g5pUAHUUqwq8L59u0h4bT1Itp7mQu9gh8xslLxHMmQSn-x14W61urE39rM_UgYRntqXGKmUpfzS3F5Jvp6pY4f7MTmUksTiISxgb84rJIZYZnps/s1600/MillportBeach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCrMkwxUSkbQS4QkqHQ70jpjpqDb-g5pUAHUUqwq8L59u0h4bT1Itp7mQu9gh8xslLxHMmQSn-x14W61urE39rM_UgYRntqXGKmUpfzS3F5Jvp6pY4f7MTmUksTiISxgb84rJIZYZnps/s640/MillportBeach.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Sun, sea, sand and a Scottish summer</span></i></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-32020003849016474792013-02-14T19:38:00.001+00:002013-02-14T19:38:21.242+00:00A Reason to Love Winter: Belgian Chocolate Snowmen!<b>Chocolate was <i>everywhere</i> in Bruges. </b><br />
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These funny little fellas caught my eye from a shop window one evening as I strolled the streets after dinner - looks like I wasn't the only one to hit the Belgian beer!<br />
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There might still be plenty of winter weather about, but a chocolate snowman would surely be enough to brighten your day!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytWI57z_wztD9Dx4r6ZjwheANx0OIK0KXHx4-PoI4aLKs1pGyWS73oSpjsZT1Z2-NPGLRfeLqT0wNXxlWD9VV4Ht2sQN9HrQH4jp8nE7mz6ZH09TgXGHRKDaH1a3ngE28oidEYGs4kDI/s1600/BelgianSnowmen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytWI57z_wztD9Dx4r6ZjwheANx0OIK0KXHx4-PoI4aLKs1pGyWS73oSpjsZT1Z2-NPGLRfeLqT0wNXxlWD9VV4Ht2sQN9HrQH4jp8nE7mz6ZH09TgXGHRKDaH1a3ngE28oidEYGs4kDI/s640/BelgianSnowmen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Chocolate beer doesn't get you drunk. Honest.</span></i></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-68972351698384207992013-02-06T19:23:00.000+00:002014-07-15T16:48:17.597+01:00Paris: A Good Idea at Any Time of Year<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>There's something about Paris that can't be explained.</b> </div>
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It's a place that packs a perfectly poised punch, and a city that's inspired me to try to adopt the effortless style of the French ever since I first set foot there. I'd like to say that I could walk around the city with a carefree "oh it's just Paris," shrug of my Chanel adorned shoulder, but despite any efforts I might make to look the part, I'm not French, <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/duty-free-shopaholics-friend-or-foe.html" target="_blank">I don't own anything Chanel except makeup, </a>and consequently I think I'll always be in awe of this stunning city.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKJJt-YZeiKuX8rwSxdDaBRgsts9mzo4MhgnFc5cUywEyHD7FGxpolyV2KnmRPukZr8h6YydssrrI-CcM6zpjiyWt7HXQdxHgs0g0AeEhODMO5siziaVLSIcglXTvF7-89L6EBdzo4A4/s1600/ParisBlog13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKJJt-YZeiKuX8rwSxdDaBRgsts9mzo4MhgnFc5cUywEyHD7FGxpolyV2KnmRPukZr8h6YydssrrI-CcM6zpjiyWt7HXQdxHgs0g0AeEhODMO5siziaVLSIcglXTvF7-89L6EBdzo4A4/s640/ParisBlog13.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You don't need to see the top of the tower to recognise this Paris icon</i></span></td></tr>
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My last visit here was in the depths of a Parisian winter, with a dusting of snow on the ground and a bright blue sky to light up the city's limitless number of lovely views. <b>This was perfect <i>wrap up warm and get walking</i> weather.</b> And that's exactly what we did.</div>
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I couldn't feel my feet as we walked along the Canal Saint Martin, but I didn't care. <b>The shimmering sheets of ice on the water winked at me as I walked in Amelie's footsteps.</b> No stone skimming for me in this weather, but what does that matter?</div>
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We stayed near the canal, close to the Gare de l'Est. <b>The ease of which we could hop on a metro to explore the city was a big plus point,</b> despite our hotel room being a little small. But that didn't matter. This <i>is</i> Paris after all, so why would you want to spend much time in a hotel room? In fact, it's probably fair to say that what little time we did spend in our hotel, we spent at the bar; cheeks cold from the city streets, sipping our nightcaps with buzzing eyes until our faces burned with the fatigue of the day and we dragged ourselves off to bed.</div>
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<b>We only stayed three nights here, and there's little doubt that a few days will only skim the surface of Paris</b> (thank goodness we <i>didn't </i>have time for me to hit the shops). But you can soak up a good deal from a long weekend. Or, if you can swing the right days off work, a midweek stint, when flights are likely to be cheaper.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz02jxJbCHa5GReuyw4IsOCQfJtiBpmnek241c8TVo-4i61kcEJL7mgKgHHMu5JUXtGU3A1rAzGSZ6IySrXbmpZiaE1q_GVj1oXWVl1WPgMM9VpQP3ygn8VBsOSOhmy7ZbYQZQpRiNUYo/s1600/ParisBlog3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz02jxJbCHa5GReuyw4IsOCQfJtiBpmnek241c8TVo-4i61kcEJL7mgKgHHMu5JUXtGU3A1rAzGSZ6IySrXbmpZiaE1q_GVj1oXWVl1WPgMM9VpQP3ygn8VBsOSOhmy7ZbYQZQpRiNUYo/s640/ParisBlog3.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Cold, but very happy to be in Paris</i></span></td></tr>
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<b>Just don't kill yourself by flapping from must-see to must-see in a frenzied sightseeing fit.</b> <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/09/visit-new-citythe-one-you-live-in.html" target="_blank">Cramming too much into a day will stop you looking up and around</a>. And in Paris this would be a mistake. The city itself (as well as, the Eiffel Tower viewed from every angle) is the star of the show.</div>
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That said, here's what we did make time to see when we weren't sauntering the streets going gooey-eyed, or prancing around pretending to be Parisian:</div>
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<b>The Louvre</b></div>
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The essential must-visit museum, the Louvre is vast and will eat up as much of your time as you let it. Catch the Mona Lisa (though I was slightly underwhelmed by it) and the Venus de Milo as well as countless other important works.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmQ2gKwgE3nP0koSxsA2hD3z4DGp0uMahe7vai9stfENrmIThwoW_1alzHkmPJiTYX5Onn26JkxIBErUktkkecdUTxsZMWZYP0ja0f_-x9uNoHw6kHJrIb__PldO4vpnjJ6MKYeyBEs8/s1600/ParisBlog2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmQ2gKwgE3nP0koSxsA2hD3z4DGp0uMahe7vai9stfENrmIThwoW_1alzHkmPJiTYX5Onn26JkxIBErUktkkecdUTxsZMWZYP0ja0f_-x9uNoHw6kHJrIb__PldO4vpnjJ6MKYeyBEs8/s640/ParisBlog2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Venus de Milo, on display in the Louvre</span></i></td></tr>
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<b>The Mus</b><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ée</b></span></span><b> D'Orsay</b></div>
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I preferred this museum to the Louvre. I liked the fact that it's an old railway station (there's always something grand and romantic about old station buildings in my opinion) and I enjoyed seeing works by Monet, Van Gogh and Renoir.</div>
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<b>Montmartre and the Sacr</b><b style="text-align: center;">é</b><b> Coeur</b></div>
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Wandering the streets of Montmarte makes you believe there's an artist within you that you've possibly yet to discover. It's vibrant culture sets fire to your senses. Then there's the Sacre Coeur Basilica, the stunning high point. A beautiful church with a location that provides a perfect view over the city.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HTTU7LD1oADBMB4sVICb14fiND93lzXj8MPhyvP-lKORqwmnp7WLT98tN9S1gHq5oGXtna2hzA41S3C596YHkuEbxynHh8538M6RSKVKDaDITfKL7-kaEtY7u5rmriptkW3ZRbabEj4/s1600/ParisBlog14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HTTU7LD1oADBMB4sVICb14fiND93lzXj8MPhyvP-lKORqwmnp7WLT98tN9S1gHq5oGXtna2hzA41S3C596YHkuEbxynHh8538M6RSKVKDaDITfKL7-kaEtY7u5rmriptkW3ZRbabEj4/s640/ParisBlog14.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The Magnificent Sacr</span><span style="font-size: small;">é</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Coeur </span></i></td></tr>
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<b>The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris</b></div>
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An important example of Gothic architecture, this famous Cathedral won't disappoint. And if you only visit one church in Paris, this should probably be it (though my favourite is still the Sacr<span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">é<i> </i></span></span>Coeur).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SvaRj3GAuM0qs3HWLydI44qU9bXHN2-n-r3kILzmMGpFIKpH7ceqRQHlw9ynF7MZaV8lyxl-49tlV1ctsqqgUkpLUqKT6LsQ3n88uS8-Z6WAFFbiY99vsBQN7AnRu5KjBNTuhEdYNvs/s1600/ParisBlog5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SvaRj3GAuM0qs3HWLydI44qU9bXHN2-n-r3kILzmMGpFIKpH7ceqRQHlw9ynF7MZaV8lyxl-49tlV1ctsqqgUkpLUqKT6LsQ3n88uS8-Z6WAFFbiY99vsBQN7AnRu5KjBNTuhEdYNvs/s640/ParisBlog5.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Don't just tour the inside, make sure you admire Notre Dame from every angle outside too</span></i></td></tr>
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<b>Wander down the Champs Elys</b><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ée</b></span></span><b>s to the Arc de Triomphe</b></div>
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Walk what's probably the world's most famous street - take in the atmosphere and the sights along the way. And if you can afford to, maybe shop, eat and treat yourself too!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgkDiS6-BAq7wTg9Cg4_9Dgjyeb6muyu9Hx0MjYK87GLFhyb6hXk-pCl-d0ZtJLvq7VQh0-lk2CjAeNeu_hA5AJqpOqpzlMulCRInA9sx74IOLjCiO0oMRDcSFCHdMMxdKpAkZuMn4n8/s1600/Paris6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgkDiS6-BAq7wTg9Cg4_9Dgjyeb6muyu9Hx0MjYK87GLFhyb6hXk-pCl-d0ZtJLvq7VQh0-lk2CjAeNeu_hA5AJqpOqpzlMulCRInA9sx74IOLjCiO0oMRDcSFCHdMMxdKpAkZuMn4n8/s640/Paris6.JPG" height="602" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Twinkling lights at night in January on the famous Paris avenue</span></i></td></tr>
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Of course, I haven't even really mentioned the <b>Eiffel Tower</b> - and whether you decide to ascend it is really up to you. I've had a go, as far as the weather would permit me, but only because it was particularly quiet in January. I'd have undoubtedly passed on it had there been a queue at a different time of year. If I'm honest, I was content just to look up at the tower, particularly when it twinkled at night, and to catch secret glimpses of it as I turned random corners on my promenades through the Paris streets.</div>
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What will I choose to specifically see on my next (and third) visit? Well, I really don't know. And frankly, I don't care. <b>I just want to <i>be</i> in Paris.</b> I think that no matter how many times I return, my subconscious will always be working on the details of another trip.</div>
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<i>Have you been to Paris? What time of year did you visit and what was your favourite thing to do? Please let me know in the comments! Maybe you can give me some ideas for next time!</i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-73912032819846763132013-02-03T13:03:00.000+00:002013-02-03T13:03:41.840+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: Windows of Notre Dame<div style="text-align: justify;">
Happy Sunday to you all! </div>
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<b>Here's a picture of stunning stained glass in Notre Dame.</b> It's a prelude to a post I'm planning to publish next week. Writing it has been bringing back fabulous memories and inspiring me to plan a return visit soon, not just to soak up the sights of the city, <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2013/01/understanding-and-underestimating-power.html" target="_blank">but also so that I can take better photographs!</a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnUTyj4dbCvu1dagPx2G0vSJaL0ZPQCelvJyRyz2nkSZMQb1yvCZILFwNMOW2cHoocQp05w16tnTOj5DFGCu4aGYXRELCDd_mRaOCiN1FWMw4iMBqU4El7AyePlAD4w_ZFWUYOFtVnes/s1600/NotreDameWindow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnUTyj4dbCvu1dagPx2G0vSJaL0ZPQCelvJyRyz2nkSZMQb1yvCZILFwNMOW2cHoocQp05w16tnTOj5DFGCu4aGYXRELCDd_mRaOCiN1FWMw4iMBqU4El7AyePlAD4w_ZFWUYOFtVnes/s640/NotreDameWindow.JPG" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Stained glass in Notre Dame de Paris</i></span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-84107758348427163492013-01-28T18:44:00.000+00:002013-01-28T18:44:50.080+00:00It's Official - Britain Needs Another Holiday!<br />
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<b>So the chances are, if you’re British, you haven’t had a holiday in far too long. </b>Yes, you have time off work – but it’s pretty likely that you rarely go anywhere, spending a good deal of your annual leave at home. And if you’re anything like me, being at home leads to all manner of unexciting things such as doing the washing and (kill me now) ironing. It’s not good. And now there’s a name for it. <b>Vacationitis</b>.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDg9HBYjnZeRNqTEBR4NTw1PFmu6FhCs9WkAjkf6p0GRX9rtvlFYEozuwES-7hcip3ahjRCpGjHXFFJ0y55T7YQZo2NGAsorFeIXsxm9EqtBM2KaUw4D-M0fJQ_JjFuEw9PVITTPh8O0/s1600/It'sOfficial4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDg9HBYjnZeRNqTEBR4NTw1PFmu6FhCs9WkAjkf6p0GRX9rtvlFYEozuwES-7hcip3ahjRCpGjHXFFJ0y55T7YQZo2NGAsorFeIXsxm9EqtBM2KaUw4D-M0fJQ_JjFuEw9PVITTPh8O0/s640/It'sOfficial4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>When was the last time you had the chance to jet off into the sunset?</i></span></td></tr>
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A recent study by <a href="http://vacationcarecenter.hilton.com/research/ukarticle#.UQVuy79dBDY" target="_blank">Hilton has found that, on average, us full time workers in the UK only spend 8 of our 24 day leave allowance actually enjoying ourselves.</a> The other 16 days are when we tackle “domestic admin” (a phrase that’s making me feel itchy already). <b>Worse still, half of us haven’t had a holiday in over a year, with a jaw-dropping 5% being holiday deprived for 10 years or more</b>. Of course, there’ll always be times when we’re redecorating, or waiting for a new bed/wardrobe/fridge to be delivered. But 10 years without a holiday? Not good. <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/what-top-10-things-will-you-most-regret.html" target="_blank">Last year I posted about the findings from a study by the British Heart Foundation which showed that not travelling enough was the top regret among us Brits.</a> Better to regret something you <i>did</i> do than something you <i>didn't</i>. And it seems to be no fluke that the people who <i>do</i> travel don’t tend to ever regret it. <b>So what are we waiting for?</b></div>
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The current climate of economic struggles and the need to cut back on our disposable spends can certainly mean we’re unable to do all the travelling we’d wish, <b>but with commitment and savvy planning you can still go on holiday! </b>And if you can, you should! I’m a firm believer that a change of scene is one of the best ways to forget about the worries of trudging life’s treadmill. </div>
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<b>If you physically take yourself away from your problems, you can learn to let them bother you less. </b>And there’s no better distraction than a beautiful view, a new city to explore, or the feeling of the ocean supporting your work-weary bones. A trip away is chance for you to remember that you’re more than your full-time job (even if it’s a job you love).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Two weeks of this? Don't mind if I do!</span></i></td></tr>
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And before you start to wonder how you’ll afford a two week break in the sun – well it won’t work for everyone. And if two weeks away seems like far too long for you to be away from your reality (or possibly just from family who rely on you), <b>the odd overnight break or weekend away can truly work wonders. </b>Look at budget airlines and consider European cities other than the usual suspects of Paris and <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/09/by-all-means-rome.html" target="_blank">Rome</a>. These are beautiful places, but it’s entirely possible you’ll get a better bargain flying to somewhere like Lisbon in Portugal or Bilbao in Spain. Both are on my radar for bargain flight prices, and in a few months I’ll be posting about just how far I can make my money go on an upcoming three night break to the Portuguese capital.</div>
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There are also your local travel options to explore.<b> Have you been to the museums close to where you live? Have you ever stayed in a hotel in your own city?</b> You might be surprised by what’s on offer – many city hotels do excellent deals, and if you take a Monday off work, there’s every possibility of a cheap Sunday overnight stay, with dinner often thrown in too. <br />
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So there you go! You really don’t have to go far to make the most of a holiday (though if you can, good for you!). <b>It’s much more about making the choice to do something, or go somewhere purely for the purpose of enjoyment, and then to make sure you stick by your decision.</b></div>
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Don’t be a vacationitis statistic!</div>
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And don’t stay home doing the ironing on your day off!<br />
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<i>Have you ever felt like you wasted your time off? And where would you suggest is a good place to visit if you can only manage a few days off work? I'd love to hear your thoughts!</i></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-61604076055040673702013-01-26T14:41:00.000+00:002013-01-26T14:50:22.504+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: Come to the CavernI haven't spent much time in my home city of <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/a-walk-around-liverpools-waterfront.html" target="_blank">Liverpool</a> recently, but I'll be rectifying that soon.<br />
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<b>One place that's always worth a visit for anyone making a first time trip to the city is the famous Cavern club.</b><br />
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The place oozes with character and is a must see for any one who has ever hummed along, or sang along, to a Beatles song...that'll be everyone in the world, then!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Memorabilia on the walls of the Cavern club.</i></span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-12813280328517615202013-01-21T20:24:00.000+00:002013-01-21T20:29:54.115+00:00You Might Not Know It Yet, But Munich Loves You!<div style="text-align: justify;">
When I recently visited Munich, I thought I only really went for the <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2013/01/wrapping-up-christmas-season-my-festive.html" target="_blank">Christmas Markets</a>. Yet only a couple of hours after arriving,<b> I unexpectedly found myself walking around the centre of the city, telling my husband I could totally live there. And he completely agreed.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Looking out across Munich's historic centre; the New Town Hall to the right, Frauenkirche Cathedral to the left</i></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">So what was it about Munich that I found so mesmerising?</span></b></div>
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Well, for starters, the standard of living is exceptionally good, so there's no doubt life can be pretty peachy here. Crime rates are also low which means it's a safe place to call home. For me though, it was more of a <i>feeling</i>. <b>And it's only since I came home that I've discovered the city's motto is "Munchen mag dich" which means "Munich loves you".</b> Prior to 2006, the motto was "Weltstadt mit Herz" or "World city with a heart" - You get the picture. And as a visitor, that's exactly the impression I got.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQHu0Saefy-jIzYxJvQ_9ClGNvHccF_zZSkpM-mn9BL_FwzL66E-TDexYvUO__Injy6Tz3TPk12wv2YL0sjcW9S8IGs3e3ta84nXOaTFvcdcgIaUz_2NWHHs8sZ-tRKjkawhpJ8x0Wzg/s1600/OldTownHall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQHu0Saefy-jIzYxJvQ_9ClGNvHccF_zZSkpM-mn9BL_FwzL66E-TDexYvUO__Injy6Tz3TPk12wv2YL0sjcW9S8IGs3e3ta84nXOaTFvcdcgIaUz_2NWHHs8sZ-tRKjkawhpJ8x0Wzg/s640/OldTownHall.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The wonderful building of the Old Town Hall</span></i></td></tr>
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Of course, I think it helped that I could pull off looking local too. You see, I spent much of last year's holiday time in <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/09/greek-island-bliss-kos.html" target="_blank">Greece</a> and <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/in-fair-verona.html" target="_blank">Italy</a> and this classic English Rose (ok, milky white) glow and blonde hair combo really screamed tourist! In Germany however, I could fit right in. And I quite enjoyed it when the locals started up conversations with me in their native tongue, so much so that I felt a pang every time I hit my language limit and had to start speaking in English.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2QOEodVZLWn94SVQ6PDfGi0eQwLCJKTFBxByi108FhICU3B-BGQyhF35AeofCtvL_Hq-7T-VfouPOw081PhEKYSD24PgyZ5NXTnVRYJuaaZfzUuByrZe9tLkW69r8ZQd3X0c_I1FHnY/s1600/Frauenkirche.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2QOEodVZLWn94SVQ6PDfGi0eQwLCJKTFBxByi108FhICU3B-BGQyhF35AeofCtvL_Hq-7T-VfouPOw081PhEKYSD24PgyZ5NXTnVRYJuaaZfzUuByrZe9tLkW69r8ZQd3X0c_I1FHnY/s640/Frauenkirche.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Looking up, as always, through the trees</span></i></td></tr>
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<b>One thing that didn't surprise me about this city was that everything just worked. </b>And the S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains were a shining example. I hadn't been to Germany before, and I really wanted to experience public transport efficiency, given that it's often a sore point in the UK (It's good here, but I always think it could be better). I was not disappointed in Munich. Getting around the city was simple and super fast. Another box ticked for me!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Postcard worthy German street scenes</span></i></td></tr>
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<b>It was also an easy city to get to know by walking </b>- and I have to thank the fabulous <a href="http://www.sateless-suitcase.com/" target="_blank">Julika from Sateless Suitcase</a> for pointing me in the direction of <a href="http://www.neweuropetours.eu/" target="_blank">Sandeman's New Europe walking tours</a>. With an enthusiastic guide, we wandered the streets; learning and looking up. Let me tell you, this is one very pretty city! Best of all, the tour is free! It works on a tips only basis, so your guide is sure to do a good job.The walk was hugely satisfying and I completely recommend it. You'll discover heaps about Munich's history (and heaps about German beer)!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">An unexpected sight on our walking tour!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>City colour in Munich's buildings</i></span></td></tr>
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Moving on to the drinking...Well, Munich is famous for beer! And if I ever return, I'll try to visit the beer gardens in the Summer sunshine. In December, we stuck to the brauhaus option. And again, I fell in love with Germany! Not just for the beer, but for the whole experience - shared benches and tables mean mixing with other people and this completely confirms that <b>Germans are a friendly and welcoming bunch. </b><br />
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As for the the food they serve? Well, it got the thumbs up from me in terms of winter comfort - pork shoulder and dumplings with sauerkraut? Traditional and oh so tasty (yet another box ticked for me <i>and</i> my meat loving man)!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Happiness found in a hearty dinner and a half drunk beer. Munich magic!</i></span></td></tr>
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This was a trip largely driven by a wish to go anywhere in Germany that would be cheap to get to whilst fitting into a very tight window of dates. But as it turned out, <b>Munich was one of my biggest city break success stories, </b>and a place I'd love to return to. </div>
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<b>Oktoberfest anyone?</b><br />
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<i>Have you been to Munich? Did you enjoy it?</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-74684297332138286102013-01-18T19:12:00.000+00:002013-01-18T19:17:59.513+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: Kittens in Kos<b>It's Friday,</b> and if you're anything like me, you're relieved that you've made it to the end of another week! So what better way to cheer you up than by looking at something cute?<br />
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<b>And what could be more cute than kittens?</b><br />
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These were photographed on the Greek Island of <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/09/greek-island-bliss-kos.html" target="_blank">Kos</a> last summer. And they were adorable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtWDKH75k7eVaNrCr29a8UPpnHMdoPI0V9lV5Z-Myyh7Bfz5-iTG4tLwb8VhsM9CjBJ6MzQg9YmIC7f3iqLtrzp36wT2EPXs7PLr15CWWwsW8SKVKkUoe4HE8j-Nqa_Pmm2dWL_NuH3w/s1600/DSCN2500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtWDKH75k7eVaNrCr29a8UPpnHMdoPI0V9lV5Z-Myyh7Bfz5-iTG4tLwb8VhsM9CjBJ6MzQg9YmIC7f3iqLtrzp36wT2EPXs7PLr15CWWwsW8SKVKkUoe4HE8j-Nqa_Pmm2dWL_NuH3w/s640/DSCN2500.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yeah, I know I'm cute. </i></span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-54177410073998839872013-01-16T19:00:00.000+00:002013-01-16T19:00:14.430+00:00The Lake District and a Birthday in Beautiful Bowness<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>We pass by the Lake District in the North of England every time we make the journey to visit our family in <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/10/scotland-when-is-lake-not-lake.html" target="_blank">Scotland</a>. But the motorway exits usually serve no purpose besides punctuating the long and often monotonous drive. </b><br />
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Sometimes, I even visit the picturesque town of Kendal for work meetings. But again, there's nothing much for me to see besides the interior of a meeting room before I need to hurry back to my office in Manchester.</div>
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When I reached the end of my twenties, I decided it was only fair to mark the occasion, so instead of passing the Lakes by as usual, this time we booked a two night stay in <a href="http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/bowness-on-windermere.htm" target="_blank">Bowness-on-Windermere</a>. <b>We were keen to see more of the Lake District than just the bland, blue signs of the M6 motorway junctions.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtVrB0DnHpzYHxIpZpmvRHniZI7EmzV75e03tEdajovVUXltUXORjtgEBZXYzKnzv4xbgi3y4jNreq1SMDYh6nCLj1c0T7QbsZ5Ce4cexUI8p6vAS_iOZ05MPUuz_vFlaYAZ1B9zAdck/s1600/IMAG0132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtVrB0DnHpzYHxIpZpmvRHniZI7EmzV75e03tEdajovVUXltUXORjtgEBZXYzKnzv4xbgi3y4jNreq1SMDYh6nCLj1c0T7QbsZ5Ce4cexUI8p6vAS_iOZ05MPUuz_vFlaYAZ1B9zAdck/s640/IMAG0132.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Evening falls on Lake Windermere</span></i></td></tr>
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<b>Bowness is a perfect spot to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Windermere, and is a wonderful English village that harbours a bustling, cosmopolitan vibe.</b> In truth, we'd barely travelled two hours by car to get there, yet we felt a world away from our Monday to Friday routine.</div>
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From Bowness, you can explore more of what the area has to offer, including taking a boat trip on the Lake, which I highly recommend, come rain or shine!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclFgcJs585A1vAZ89XXdDu0thMan7F3uRk3PPrw_JSvtWSoHNKPi6eM0zw86Z774RoStj8hxetR1Gabahs98SPvg00CbY7j4VA-0pYXD0ZQX4f3zIGEwOdjhO2LbkYonb92HFpEw74kQ/s1600/IMAG0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclFgcJs585A1vAZ89XXdDu0thMan7F3uRk3PPrw_JSvtWSoHNKPi6eM0zw86Z774RoStj8hxetR1Gabahs98SPvg00CbY7j4VA-0pYXD0ZQX4f3zIGEwOdjhO2LbkYonb92HFpEw74kQ/s640/IMAG0125.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My Birthday Girl boat trip</i></span></td></tr>
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<b>Bowness offers plenty to do</b> (especially when it comes to eating and drinking - no complaints from me, then). We enjoyed Spanish tapas, outstanding traditional fish and chips, and some of the best Italian food I've ever had in England. <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/duty-free-shopaholics-friend-or-foe.html" target="_blank">And of course, being something of a shopaholic</a>, I was more than happy to meander the shops - especially those selling beautiful silver jewellery.<br />
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All in all, it was a fabulous birthday. <b>But the real lesson for me was in learning that the change of scene you need, can sometimes be closer to home than you think. </b>You too may have so far overlooked it without even realising.<br />
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One thing is definitely for sure; we'll be making time to discover more of the Lake District in future. <b>It's the perfect escape from city life.</b></div>
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Have <i>you</i> been to the Lake District? Do let me know in the comments! And check out the <a href="http://www.golakes.co.uk/" target="_blank">Go Lakes</a> website for activity ideas should you be either returning to this part of the world, or planning your first visit.<br />
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<i>We stayed in <a href="http://www.thecranleigh.com/index.html" target="_blank">The Cranleigh</a>, where boutique hotel meets B&B hospitality. Our stay wasn't sponsored, and this recommendation comes purely from my own opinion.</i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-16947984520549095932013-01-14T16:59:00.000+00:002013-01-14T16:59:09.448+00:00Understanding and Underestimating the Power of Photographs<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>In the beginning, writing about my travels and the thoughts that they provoked was all for me.</b> It was a way I could keep memories alive; a way to take me back to places I loved without the need to go anywhere at all. Only when I turned my writing into this blog, did I realise something pretty fundamental. </div>
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<b>My photographs were rubbish!</b></div>
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They were mostly holiday snaps. You know, stand in front of a vaguely acceptable view with a cocktail in your hand, grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat. And while pictures like that are great for your own mementos, <b>they just don't cut it when you put them in a post. </b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTAm2n-_ZxDTwUSAAkUCLBiH20Db5sdJXqSu-gyCXieGftO3fEhBVOCPWXLmsqAT8EkrfgLUyMH9CJe5biRR6RakMncC0_vaPHVwyl0CPW96nuAziWYeOUufJgn7F-7X08epl6ECOtig/s1600/DSCN2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTAm2n-_ZxDTwUSAAkUCLBiH20Db5sdJXqSu-gyCXieGftO3fEhBVOCPWXLmsqAT8EkrfgLUyMH9CJe5biRR6RakMncC0_vaPHVwyl0CPW96nuAziWYeOUufJgn7F-7X08epl6ECOtig/s640/DSCN2432.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A photo taken with my old camera - I still love it for that view of Venice</span></i></td></tr>
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I've always watched other people with their cameras, and I'm guilty of thinking that maybe taking photographs was easy. It's not.<b> But taking good pictures means you're rewarded. </b>And in more recent trips, I've come to appreciate the mosaic of memories I've created through my snapping more than ever before.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSd0ghQBAL7rHXJxhuZNoOwDNiHT2m4vH5DUltdeSpUU1LjX0ZyHAByeGZnqAwM_SU7NsZVTZTLs1Ug-2So4_5oPP9o21zkucqQogMB7s2treaE8snio1-b80Wp6Zlx_HwtuMXi9qzQ4/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSd0ghQBAL7rHXJxhuZNoOwDNiHT2m4vH5DUltdeSpUU1LjX0ZyHAByeGZnqAwM_SU7NsZVTZTLs1Ug-2So4_5oPP9o21zkucqQogMB7s2treaE8snio1-b80Wp6Zlx_HwtuMXi9qzQ4/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">My favourite photo of the poet Dante, in Verona</span></i></td></tr>
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Reading travel blogs makes you see that although words can indeed be enough, <b>a photo has an instant impact and the power of a strong image pulls the reader into the page, hungry for more.</b> I know this because it happens to me all the time. I'm engaged by a photograph, and the words that seem to sing alongside it, manage to paint <i>me</i> into that picture. The combination makes me want to be there, or sometimes, believe I already am.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynvCN4pHW_M9r118s8IIXuHVeIVHXcc3A6Dk9FVuCXxY2IwNmIjVcfg5MPswC5Y1lYsoIcbQodUuLYMSo7WHrw-IIgaY7mjlYtTiMkTs-C2V7P7NQ0oKo7psgjQNwKfCWEcTd-Vug0TQ/s1600/IMG_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynvCN4pHW_M9r118s8IIXuHVeIVHXcc3A6Dk9FVuCXxY2IwNmIjVcfg5MPswC5Y1lYsoIcbQodUuLYMSo7WHrw-IIgaY7mjlYtTiMkTs-C2V7P7NQ0oKo7psgjQNwKfCWEcTd-Vug0TQ/s640/IMG_0667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Trying to capture the colours of Munich, in the street outside the Cathedral</span></i></td></tr>
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<b>So I've upgraded my camera.</b> And even though it's still a compact point and shoot, it's infinitely better than the digi-dinosaur I was using before. I'm also learning. When I look at the photos of blogs like <a href="http://www.adventurouskate.com/" target="_blank">Adventurous Kate</a>, or <a href="http://www.eurotriptips.com/" target="_blank">Eurotriptips</a>, I know I've got a long way to go, both in terms of shooting and in editing, too. So I scour travel sites I love in search of tips on photography and I try harder (even if it slows us down) when we're out and about. <b>These days, my camera comes out with me almost <i>all the time. </i>Just in case. </b><br />
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<b>And when I don't have my camera, I'm using my smartphone - </b>the potential in this is phenomenal. And with a plethora of helpful apps, I've plenty to keep me busy.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWjJYKyI21xRWL-7pxif-FKDxwjtKQS2L6Ykpb0V91Y-WJde4QAmcUiS-2cS9IcFgCSa6Gnk0B8v4LbiSHnRlCKOjJGpjOG3An14sutw1pwvAwMxXKAngCh6xoo4ElhimagE_BnEVZCI/s1600/IMAG0116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWjJYKyI21xRWL-7pxif-FKDxwjtKQS2L6Ykpb0V91Y-WJde4QAmcUiS-2cS9IcFgCSa6Gnk0B8v4LbiSHnRlCKOjJGpjOG3An14sutw1pwvAwMxXKAngCh6xoo4ElhimagE_BnEVZCI/s640/IMAG0116.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A different look at Liverpool - and a photo from a smartphone</span></i></td></tr>
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<b>I've started to see the world with a different eye, and it looks good! </b>Maybe good enough for you to start to see the difference. I can only hope! In the meantime, while I'm writing up my travels from the past, don't be too disappointed with the photography (or lack, thereof). It's a learning curve, but I'm improving, I promise. </div>
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<b>And if you've anything to teach me I'll be entirely grateful for your photography tips!</b><br />
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<i>How important is photography to you? And what advice would you give this eager to learn amateur? Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear from you!</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-21019507333572811182013-01-12T14:27:00.000+00:002013-01-12T14:27:08.468+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: Faces of Rome<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>If you like museums, you can't afford to miss a visit to the Vatican City.</b></div>
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The queues may seem intimidating during the main summer tourist season, but you can book tickets in advance. It's worth devoting half a day to explore the museum, maybe longer, depending on how long you want to spend staring at the ceiling of the Sistine chapel at the end of your visit.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlg78cXYELze-fUdcuh8vNDJ0va38dmM2Uefuii-oqpDJy0e-IJWfs3SmerBmtuJdZ8JJLr_dGZ5WZHugdEmPkIFnGs_WSPLOaCvbmZWJJuEMuHdk4mRyco4DR7YyIabyswX22NuI5UtA/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlg78cXYELze-fUdcuh8vNDJ0va38dmM2Uefuii-oqpDJy0e-IJWfs3SmerBmtuJdZ8JJLr_dGZ5WZHugdEmPkIFnGs_WSPLOaCvbmZWJJuEMuHdk4mRyco4DR7YyIabyswX22NuI5UtA/s640/179.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Faces of Rome in the Vatican Museum<br /></span></i></td></tr>
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<i>Have you been to the Vatican Museum?</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-91645490877708226892013-01-07T21:54:00.000+00:002013-01-08T16:12:37.297+00:00Our Greek Poseidon Adventure<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Boat trips in Greece. I love them.</b> </div>
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When I saw a little advertising board outside the local tour company in Kos, trying to sell me the perfect day, I immediately pictured myself sailing along in the sunshine, blissfully smiling out at the sparkling sea. I knew I'd have a fabulous time because I'd done similar trips before, on other Greek Islands. It was always a dream of a way to spend a day.</div>
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<b>As I glazed over at the happy memories of diving off boats into clear waters and munching souvlaki on deserted beaches</b>, I wistfully waxed lyrical about the joys of messing about on Greek boats to my Other Half. It wasn't hard to convince him that the three island boat trip would be the highlight of our holiday. So, into the tour office we went, and out we came with tickets for the following day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOB7lZNIcXjrsApNaiOHzsjsR2q-dtFwJY-ZWxJ5YyS7i0FcVgjnQK1_gId26C8PKKpwS_s0ToyjcJh8BEg_Tr2JeFwIMhN4M2R_DzaXSjZQAVNcwB-ntWm_8UHqY1EsxovpbOXXP2ig8/s1600/DSCN2536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOB7lZNIcXjrsApNaiOHzsjsR2q-dtFwJY-ZWxJ5YyS7i0FcVgjnQK1_gId26C8PKKpwS_s0ToyjcJh8BEg_Tr2JeFwIMhN4M2R_DzaXSjZQAVNcwB-ntWm_8UHqY1EsxovpbOXXP2ig8/s640/DSCN2536.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The type of view you can only get from on board a boat</span></i></td></tr>
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Later that night, I regaled my husband with stories of Greek holidays past as we slurped our local brew in the balmy evening heat. Hell, I think I even re-enacted my diving technique on dry land, such was my enthusiasm for the next day's excursion. <b>Excited? </b>Yes. <b>Intoxicated? </b>Oh, you'd better believe it.</div>
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<b>The next day started with a groan and a sore head. </b>One too many last night maybe, but a litre of water later I was ready to get on board. Bring on the boat. My husband seemed in good spirits too, though the aftermath of an extra pint of Mythos seemed not quite as easy for him to shake off. </div>
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Once on board the aptly named <b>"Poseidon"</b> (oh how I wish I had a photo to prove that was the name - I wasn't blogging then, so I hadn't quite realised the importance of picture documentation), I waited happily for us to sail out of Kos Town. And it took all of ten minutes out at sea before my husband was throwing up in the one, tiny, on board toilet.</div>
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<b>Turns out he'd left his sea legs in last night's pint glass.</b></div>
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He came back after a few minutes, pale but (half) smiling. I hoped he'd be ok as I tried to remember if it was my fault we'd had "one for the road". </div>
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At about the same time, we saw a girl hobble down from the top deck, with the same sorry expression as my man. <b>My Glaswegian husband nicknamed her "Hen", a Scottish term of endearment.</b> She looked like she needed all the endearment she could get as she held a plastic sick bag limply in her pale hand. </div>
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Unfortunately, the sight of her ultimately pushed my husband over the edge, and he ran to the loo again. </div>
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This time he was gone for <i>ages</i>. And even I broke out in to a cold sweat as person after person attempted to open the toilet door. <i>What was he doing in there?</i> <b>And was it even possible for a person get their head stuck down a toilet? </b></div>
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The minutes dragged on while I waited for him to reappear. And every time I looked forward I saw poor Hen, ready to lean over the side of the boat, trying desperately to keep looking up at the sky on the advice of one of the Greek crew. </div>
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<b>And still my husband stayed locked in the loo.</b></div>
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When he eventually emerged, the sun <strike>burned </strike> kissed glow from the previous days had vanished. <b>Instead he gave off a slight green hue that was pitifully emphasised by the green T-shirt he was wearing.</b> He was also drenched in water as a result of an over enthusiastic face splash, but he looked so much like he'd just stepped out of a horror film, that it might as well have been blood. He was <i>not</i> a pretty sight.</div>
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All this before we'd even made it to the first of the three islands. <b>How on earth would we ever make it back to Kos Town?</b></div>
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It might seem strange to say it given what you've just read,<b> but the boat trip actually <i>was </i>one of my best days in Kos. </b>Once I let my husband sleep off the sea sickness in a dark corner, I lost myself in the wonderful views and the swish and the slosh of the blue-green water. And after a swim at the first stop, he slowly started coming back to life (though it would be another two days before the colour returned to his face).</div>
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My husband might claim he'll never go on another boat trip, <b>but I'm telling you it's one of the best things to do on the Greek Islands.</b> Just don't drink too much the night before, and if you do, well it's probably best you have a hair of the dog before you salute your captain. </div>
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Maybe <i>that's</i> why sailors drink rum...<br />
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<b>Oh, and if you're wondering what happened to poor Hen?</b> Well, one of the male crew took quite the shine to her; carefully monitoring every stage of her recovery. So for all we know she's planning a <b>Big Fat Greek Wedding</b> by now!</div>
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Yamas!<br />
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<i>Have you ever had your own sailing adventure on your travels? Do tell!</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-20169827474725197452013-01-06T15:07:00.000+00:002013-01-06T15:07:09.348+00:00Wrapping Up the Christmas Season: My Festive Fling with Munich<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>January 6th marks the the final celebration of the Christmas season for many</b>, so it seems fair for me to wrap up my own Christmas with a post about my visit to Munich and the magic of its Christmas markets.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The sun sets on Munich's Marienplatz, and the fairy lights start to sparkle</i></span></td></tr>
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We made the decision to go on this trip when we were riding a holiday high in <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/in-fair-verona.html" target="_blank">Verona</a>. <b>For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to visit Germany for it's famous markets</b>, and as we talked about the possibility of cramming in a visit on the weekend before Christmas, our red wine buzz convinced us to go for it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4n4j7MHe2Ngag4r3yuoy-LLtBuVc911FX-QOLntYkk9-35l0mRTrv_4NoUmCT12XcNQQHQL9d-wtpP_jz7tKUhmEzo1OyOywAwqdKhvldUQhjNapYe4ATForG-zH37_JMjSi2a3yr5k/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4n4j7MHe2Ngag4r3yuoy-LLtBuVc911FX-QOLntYkk9-35l0mRTrv_4NoUmCT12XcNQQHQL9d-wtpP_jz7tKUhmEzo1OyOywAwqdKhvldUQhjNapYe4ATForG-zH37_JMjSi2a3yr5k/s640/IMG_0786.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Fabulously festive market mugs</span></i></td></tr>
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As usual, the exact destination in Germany would be largely decided by flight options and prices that worked for us. It turned out that Munich was the best fit at the best price, so as soon as we returned from Italy, I booked it. <b>And it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas market stalls around Munich's Cathedral</span></i></td></tr>
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<b>The markets in Munich were everything I hoped for</b>. Much as I love the <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/12/mulled-wine-and-magic-in-manchesters.html" target="_blank">Manchester version</a> at home, in Munich I found the essence of what they're all about it. This was especially true in the market we stumbled across at Rosenheimer Platz. A market for the local community, <b>they served Christmas spirit along with the Gluhwein in every mug. </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Locals meeting and mingling in the Rosenheimer Platz market</i></span></td></tr>
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Families gathered, friends shared jugs of wine, stalls stocking everyday products stood next to those selling beautiful nativity figures and hand made tree ornaments.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas ornaments and nativity figures for sale</span></i></td></tr>
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The larger markets in and around the Marienplatz square in the centre of the city were busier and more touristy of course, <b>but the fundamental feeling that this is just how Germans do Christmas, was still everywhere. </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Shopping for all things Christmas against the backdrop of Munich's Old Town Hall</span></i></td></tr>
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<b>Munich's markets felt genuine and authentic in a way we've not yet managed to capture in our often overcrowded UK versions of the German originals</b>. Perhaps we will never manage to do it quite as well. After all, we're borrowing the tradition from somewhere else. I'll always enjoy Manchester's markets, <b>but for the real deal, I'm going German</b>.<br />
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Any suggestions for next Christmas?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Me. Overdosing on Christmas and loving every minute in Munich</span></i></td></tr>
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<i>Have you been to any of the Christmas markets in Germany, or anywhere else in Europe? Let me know your thoughts and tips in the comments!</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-61317056515813348242013-01-05T16:57:00.000+00:002013-01-05T20:16:04.365+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: Munich Rooftops<b>This picture was taken from the bell tower of Peterskirche</b>, where the views over Munich were simply stunning. We made the climb in the early evening, just as the sun was about to set on the city.<br />
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It was the perfect way to build up an appetite for a hearty December dinner of pork shoulder and dumplings.<b> Not to mention a well earned beer!</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-76353132796959319492013-01-02T22:00:00.000+00:002013-01-02T22:14:30.748+00:002013: My Mission to Work Hard. And Travel Harder<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Now we're done with New Year, I guess it's fair to say the party's over. </b>And once again reality bites for me in Manchester, with January's bitter chill. But through the remainder of the dark nights, there'll be no post-Christmas season doom and gloom for me. </div>
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Instead of wishing winter away, I'll be writing in earnest and planning my next adventures. <b>Promising myself that I'll work hard in 2013, and travel even harder.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Where will I be departing for in 2013? A whole year of opportunity awaits.</span></i></td></tr>
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This year, I'm determined to pour more of myself into this blog, which undoubtedly means more work. <b>Need Another Holiday is a little over three months old and I love every minute I spend on trying to build it into something better.</b> I'm excited about writing more, learning more and hopefully reaching more readers. </div>
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<b>I'm also determined that I'll see more new places in 2013. </b>Last year, I made it to just one new country, despite five trips abroad (that was<b> Germany</b>, and I'll be posting about it soon). And while I'm more than happy to return to my beloved <b><a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/in-fair-verona.html" target="_blank">Italy</a> </b>and <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/10/5-things-that-got-me-addicted-to-greek.html" target="_blank"><b>Greece</b></a> over and over again, <b>this year I'm keen to go where I haven't gone before.</b> Hopefully that will mean <b>Portugal, Croatia, Hungary</b> and the <b>Czech Republic</b>. As well as a second trip to <b>Belgium</b>, which I last visited in 1999. </div>
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As always though, I'll be driven by budget, <b>which means a sniff of a good enough bargain may steer me elsewhere, so it will be interesting to see where 2013 <i>actually</i> takes me.</b> </div>
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Wherever I go, there's no doubt I'll be writing about it here, this time <i>next</i> year! I hope you'll be here to read all about it...</div>
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<i>Where will 2013 be taking you? And have you any good suggestions for me? Please let me know in the comments!</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-35924499940186470222012-12-29T19:58:00.000+00:002012-12-29T19:59:44.065+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: Christmas in MunichI know there was no weekend picture pick last week, <b>but that's because I was too busy getting my festive buzz on by drinking mulled wine in Munich.</b><br />
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So while we're still in the middle of the festive season, <b>here's a wee taste of Christmas in Bavaria, and a beautiful crib.</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv58vaSpsV7Hwx62zdH3pdfbBJVMUl6oCo59PtuNQbL4G9KICQqzEgudnUCdlx3xpj9Mf8kVS2BtVQd17e_kW6VvC2TTbhwj4KwepwpPLAHunxkNJgf6Wbw7cZqcxBqfCef9K-_TfQB5M/s1600/IMG_0691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv58vaSpsV7Hwx62zdH3pdfbBJVMUl6oCo59PtuNQbL4G9KICQqzEgudnUCdlx3xpj9Mf8kVS2BtVQd17e_kW6VvC2TTbhwj4KwepwpPLAHunxkNJgf6Wbw7cZqcxBqfCef9K-_TfQB5M/s640/IMG_0691.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The crib in the Theatinerkirche, Munich</span></i><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.833333015441895px; text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>I've got so much more to say about Munich, and my first visit to Germany </b>(and it's all good).<br />
<b><br /></b>
So stay tuned and watch this space...<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-78580656650723865602012-12-20T20:58:00.000+00:002012-12-20T21:00:12.365+00:00Pondering Travels Past, Planning Travels Future and Packing for Travels Present<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Reflecting is something we all do at this time of year, whether we intend to or not.</b> We can't help it, and there's nothing wrong with that.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
2012 will be a year I remember fondly as my biggest success to date in terms of travel. I might not have made it out of Europe, but that doesn't matter to me. <b>The point is that I really feel like I made the best of my budget and my time off work.</b></div>
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<b>In April, I returned to <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/09/lets-get-lost-in-venice.html" target="_blank">Venice</a> to retrieve the piece of my heart I left there six years ago,</b> only to decide that it belonged there, thus giving me a reason to go back once again.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXc44nL7Ex-JRp2Om0Q8ZIeXbT9sOEF63eWX9dU4zZvgliqCLJ67ISxxObAQcY4Xcilps01lHU-OHYClYQEev48BG1Qvw8E0A2QLZtJFFtRa-RmzOFLHb7IoQGyelJSz6q0shG73zqqs/s1600/DSCN2424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXc44nL7Ex-JRp2Om0Q8ZIeXbT9sOEF63eWX9dU4zZvgliqCLJ67ISxxObAQcY4Xcilps01lHU-OHYClYQEev48BG1Qvw8E0A2QLZtJFFtRa-RmzOFLHb7IoQGyelJSz6q0shG73zqqs/s640/DSCN2424.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A su<span style="font-size: small;">n<span style="font-size: small;">ny sky, a beer in my hand and Venice. What more could I ever want?</span></span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>In June, I made the short trip from home across the Irish Sea to my beloved city of <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/10/do-dublin-guinness-really-does-taste.html" target="_blank">Dublin</a>.</b> This time, I was on a hen party. I laughed until my face ached and the tears streamed down my face; I danced until my feet throbbed with agony and I had to limp back to the airport. I loved every minute.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrl3sfS4h1ij8f9vxf59JOudU8nxp5Q65B55eIMXpOwUc3UbHquP3Ymnp-29UmAehtxPdWz2yHspPM3LW0ZjiiXacTIDym2IjRdMRnGinp4ioOpEx3l8Uhyen4BTJ47MEWJYkUovEN6l0/s1600/DSCN0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrl3sfS4h1ij8f9vxf59JOudU8nxp5Q65B55eIMXpOwUc3UbHquP3Ymnp-29UmAehtxPdWz2yHspPM3LW0ZjiiXacTIDym2IjRdMRnGinp4ioOpEx3l8Uhyen4BTJ47MEWJYkUovEN6l0/s640/DSCN0538.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Smiling (despite the cloud<span style="font-size: small;">s)</span></i></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">one on of many visits to</span> Dublin. Pr<span style="font-size: small;">o<span style="font-size: small;">bably my favourite city in the world</span></span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>In August, I basked in Greek sunshine on the Island of <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/09/greek-island-bliss-kos.html" target="_blank">Kos</a>;</b> soaking up the sun, swishing in the sea and stuffing my face with glorious Greek food.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoEF2Igr7lPIkn00raWz5I7ZsThicXfVOKsUJTaRoY2kdwUze4s_8UkLZNOubVbPMN2ywQjO2iHWvsy6Jr2JJbXwXKORgjO-7jELeUEH8jH7854FwxLx83Ylcdlr3pX-k2qZQd5Md_HM/s1600/DSCN2514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoEF2Igr7lPIkn00raWz5I7ZsThicXfVOKsUJTaRoY2kdwUze4s_8UkLZNOubVbPMN2ywQjO2iHWvsy6Jr2JJbXwXKORgjO-7jELeUEH8jH7854FwxLx83Ylcdlr3pX-k2qZQd5Md_HM/s640/DSCN2514.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The perfect spot for relaxing. The Mythos Apartments in <span style="font-size: small;">Tigaki, Kos</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>In October, I searched for secret sights in <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/in-fair-verona.html" target="_blank">Fair Verona</a>, and finally made it to <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/lake-garda-sights-of-stunning-sirmione.html" target="_blank">Lake Garda</a>,</b> a place I have wanted to visit for so, so long.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzauD2axHGlo6almNmWUE3FseQC1NOSINTjSSNLv6wzwIkkk05tdGTpCiuaqpnHcZaYyjV-D60QcAD931UnoiwsFmUwgYYd0aLYO8eeNa5IIIDJ_fz7n1f8hTzRQzjzbYT2g5onfWMyRs/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzauD2axHGlo6almNmWUE3FseQC1NOSINTjSSNLv6wzwIkkk05tdGTpCiuaqpnHcZaYyjV-D60QcAD931UnoiwsFmUwgYYd0aLYO8eeNa5IIIDJ_fz7n1f8hTzRQzjzbYT2g5onfWMyRs/s640/IMG_0177.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lake Garda. I made it. I loved it.</i></span></td></tr>
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Now, in December, <b>I'm preparing to pack light for a whirlwind 48 hours in Munich.</b> <b>We leave on Saturday morning for what will be my first visit to Germany; something I'm tremendously excited about.</b> I'll be overdosing on Christmas spirit and getting to know the city by taking a walking tour. I can't wait.</div>
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<b>And of course, 2013 then beckons with all the optimistic promise a New Year brings.</b> February will see me fly to Belgium for a trip to Bruges and Brussels, and in April I'm planning to visit Brighton for <a href="http://www.traverse-events.com/" target="_blank">Traverse</a>, my first travel blogging conference. I'll be nervous, but I'm really looking forward to it. </div>
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<b>Perhaps the most important thing about 2012 for me, is that I'll remember it always as the year I finally put myself out there and started my blog. </b></div>
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My full-time job an electrical engineer is rewarding, and doing my bit to keep the lights on is something I love. </div>
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<b>But it's only part of my story. Need Another Holiday is the rest.</b> </div>
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And every single page view means such a lot. So if you're reading this now,<b> thank you, sincerely. </b></div>
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<b>Here's to celebrating your successes of 2012, and making the most of every minute in 2013.</b></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-50967543006883109942012-12-16T20:52:00.000+00:002012-12-16T20:52:19.858+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: When Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney<div style="text-align: justify;">
This weekend's photo comes somewhat late, I'm afraid. <b>But that's because I've mostly been in a frantic, festive shopping frenzy for the last couple of days. </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And that involved a visit to Manchester's <a href="http://www.traffordcentre.co.uk/" target="_blank">Trafford Centre</a>, one of the UK's largest shopping and leisure complexes.</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVedsmRzMY5htzjzruJ55s4SDXfu4zsRDdU1s48G0GXZ1bhysYTcziSTVgPh7z0TOdvJbtkS5seoxx5yvR6OxiYvrOrbRlvQDYWdX1W3fRYfe4ri0e_vCutsmpdaiYVrAUfp3GdJ1IPxI/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVedsmRzMY5htzjzruJ55s4SDXfu4zsRDdU1s48G0GXZ1bhysYTcziSTVgPh7z0TOdvJbtkS5seoxx5yvR6OxiYvrOrbRlvQDYWdX1W3fRYfe4ri0e_vCutsmpdaiYVrAUfp3GdJ1IPxI/s640/IMG_0026.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Traff<span style="font-size: small;">ord Centre Santa looks down over Manchester, from <span style="font-size: small;">the <span style="font-size: small;">220 feet high Campanile</span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>No matter how hard I try, I never seem to manage to avoid the mayhem of the High Street in the last fortnight before the Big Day.</b> I must confess though, there's something quite exciting about being a last minute Christmas shopper. And once we're well and truly into December, <b>I can submit myself completely to the season, unashamedly Christmas jumpered up to the max.</b> </div>
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Woolly reindeer hat and all. </div>
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<b>With bells on.</b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
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<i>Have you done all your Christmas shopping?</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-20118366544345633342012-12-12T19:31:00.000+00:002012-12-12T19:42:47.483+00:00Barcelona: The City That Brought Me Back to Life<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>I went to Barcelona the year after I never went anywhere. </b>That was the year I suffered two prolapsed discs in my lower back, condemning me to four months stuck at home on a cocktail of painkillers and daytime television.<br />
<br />
It's strange how being housebound can affect you. As someone who loves to travel, <b>I still struggle to get my head around how fearful I became of leaving my own front door. </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXvqgljUCNWSJH9UEXt80w5WQbBmDpSnPW_YLkNW-llJtpDNlYujIcHPD13qNSbrsLM8mV3v4f-wW9_kjaL63oRduIa90jYaDWBncKZApUAPclBg7_5a-2h3Kiy7aZfBrBxKk1CV59PE/s1600/DSCN0775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXvqgljUCNWSJH9UEXt80w5WQbBmDpSnPW_YLkNW-llJtpDNlYujIcHPD13qNSbrsLM8mV3v4f-wW9_kjaL63oRduIa90jYaDWBncKZApUAPclBg7_5a-2h3Kiy7aZfBrBxKk1CV59PE/s640/DSCN0775.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Sagrada Familia in <span style="font-size: small;">B</span>arcelona<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">,</span>where <span style="font-size: small;">I managed to <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">forget about being in </span>pain.</span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
When you're getting over the type of physical pain that people tell you they can actually see on your face, it's easy to become frightened of simply bumping in to someone when you're out and about. You worry that the slightest thing will hurt you all over again. <b>In my case, it meant that the real me went into hibernation. </b>And despite being inactive for such a long time, somehow I managed to lose a lot of weight, because I just couldn't sit up to eat a meal.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Eventually boarding a plane and taking off on a trip to Barcelona, somewhere I'd always wanted to visit, was an unbelievable feeling. </b>And it was there, in Barcelona, that the travel bug bit me again.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4mPBloOKNXPZR6UH1B7HkeY7VVc7nEh1o097C5PpvrJMpM-JGY7ae6puj8cY5U2R5E50CGZWxFy_8epcrlPUViNTOR1rps-SEmY2zMFiOhQ8FFHs5uNqTKvHdcTwvd4Y7tFQzEuS7w4/s1600/DSCN0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4mPBloOKNXPZR6UH1B7HkeY7VVc7nEh1o097C5PpvrJMpM-JGY7ae6puj8cY5U2R5E50CGZWxFy_8epcrlPUViNTOR1rps-SEmY2zMFiOhQ8FFHs5uNqTKvHdcTwvd4Y7tFQzEuS7w4/s640/DSCN0755.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Feeling happy to be back out in the world. It might have been to<span style="font-size: small;">o cold for a dip in that pool, but I didn't care.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My lower back pain has never completely gone away, but I don't complain. <b>Things can always be a lot worse.</b> And it doesn't stop me travelling. I won't let it. Those flights can get uncomfortable, but a rolled up scarf tucked in to the small of my back <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/what-are-you-travelling-in.html" target="_blank">(my fashion/ function saviour)</a>, works wonders.</div>
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Nothing will stop me from seeing the world<b>. </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Not since Barcelona brought me back to life.</b></div>
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<i>Has an injury or illness ever stopped you from travelling? Has any one place really made a difference to you, or brought you back from something? If you'd like to, please share your story in the comments. </i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-57873224925004295592012-12-07T21:11:00.000+00:002012-12-07T21:13:39.829+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: Inspiring My Inner Italian Chef<div style="text-align: justify;">
I chose this photo after spending lengthy periods of time this week pondering what culinary delights I might prepare this Saturday or Sunday. <b>Sometimes there's nothing better than whiling away a winter weekend afternoon cooking up comfort food in the kitchen. </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>And sometimes there's nothing more comforting than an Italian feast...</b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQHSU30R11Ry-XrKoybqW-KfBXP8kw-9Bn9M5O6zmr49UYn5mJ2aSZgS0LWMqE_QgvnpgZP5nBZjrmRv03RgBoFKFcB-EoghKOvDQ5fNqyAqhkDJ3fkJu5bh9NVkJ0XwlRh41o4a91LU/s1600/IMG_0444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQHSU30R11Ry-XrKoybqW-KfBXP8kw-9Bn9M5O6zmr49UYn5mJ2aSZgS0LWMqE_QgvnpgZP5nBZjrmRv03RgBoFKFcB-EoghKOvDQ5fNqyAqhkDJ3fkJu5bh9NVkJ0XwlRh41o4a91LU/s640/IMG_0444.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One of<span style="font-size: small;"> Italy's wonderful market stalls</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-4158779937560773652012-12-05T19:06:00.000+00:002012-12-05T19:10:19.982+00:00Travel Beauty Booty: 5 Skin Care Products You Should Pack<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>With age comes wisdom, they say. </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well that may be true,<b> but in my case, every passing year brings with it more of an obsession with skin care products</b>. I might be determined to grow old gracefully, but I can't help believing that investing in a bit of good practise now, will saddle me up with the armour I need to ride into battle for the fight against wrinkles when they really attack.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Of course, plastering my face with a plethora of creams and serums is
all well and good when I'm in the comfort of home. And a dressing table
display of beautiful bottles and gorgeous glass jars is one of my
indulgent little luxuries. <b>But what horror befalls this beauty junkie
when faced with a carry on case and a plane journey that means I'll be
away from my lotion and potion loot?</b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAb_dYpciz7G5ZJBPeio0jiwBuC9gNMOygBewFJIbkdU1YdvYVKW6LNau-cXpprv_jeGg6hfPoNVzQFLwJbNTVJMYeGD-d8FFAw-gcU6l4hA3cBFycP7-fq_d1wLUhCZvVY5p19LXH98/s1600/IMG_0581%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAb_dYpciz7G5ZJBPeio0jiwBuC9gNMOygBewFJIbkdU1YdvYVKW6LNau-cXpprv_jeGg6hfPoNVzQFLwJbNTVJMYeGD-d8FFAw-gcU6l4hA3cBFycP7-fq_d1wLUhCZvVY5p19LXH98/s640/IMG_0581%5B1%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have to get ready for bed at 6pm to give me time to s<span style="font-size: small;">mother my face in all of this. And t<span style="font-size: small;">his is only half of it</span>.</span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<b>The variety of skin care I own is so shamefully vast that it would probably need its own suitcase in the hold if I packed the lot </b><a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/09/can-you-get-15-pairs-of-shoes-into-15kg.html" target="_blank">(along with my shoes; a whole other sore point).</a> But I'm not daft, so I know that the skin care regime needs to be suitably streamlined when I'm ready for take off.</div>
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This begs the question:</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What do women really need to look after their skin wh<span style="font-size: large;">en <span style="font-size: large;">they're</span></span> away or on the road?</span></b></div>
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And what multi-taskers will see us through?</div>
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<b>Here are my favourite five:</b></div>
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<b>1) Vaseline</b> - The skin saviour. Cheap and readily available. Plus, it doubles up brilliantly as a waterproof eye make-up remover and lip balm for even the most sensitive skin.</div>
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<b>2) Cleanser</b> - You <i>need </i>this. If I'm planning a long trip, I'll buy it in my destination. Otherwise I'm likely to pack a packet of cleansing wipes. Easy.</div>
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<b>3) Toner</b> - Not something I'm prepared to do without, this eradicates every last bit of face grime. Just decant as much as you'll need into a mini spray bottle and spritz it onto a cotton wool pad to use.</div>
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<b>4) Moisturiser</b> - At home I have a day cream <i>and </i>a night cream (needs must), but when I'm away I choose a good multi-tasker I can use around the clock. Something like <b>Clinique's Dramatically Different </b>would be a good bet.</div>
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<b>5) Sun screen</b> - Goes without saying! Much as we love it, the sun is our number one ageing agent. Be prepared in all climates!</div>
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And that's what I pack! I leave everything else at home, <b>but I always leave room for <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/duty-free-shopaholics-friend-or-foe.html" target="_blank">duty-free beauty</a></b>. Just in case!</div>
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(My current brands of choice are <b>Vichy</b> and <b>The Sanctuary</b>, but I do dabble in <b>Chanel</b> when I'm feeling flush!)</div>
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<i>Do you have any travel beauty secrets or favourite products? Please share in the comments!</i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-81862781173320723192012-12-03T16:55:00.000+00:002012-12-03T17:21:33.101+00:00Mulled Wine and Magic in Manchester's Christmas Markets<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b>As I peeled my gloves from my icy hands and curled my fingers around this year's Christmas market mug, </b>I felt the exciting, yet comforting buzz of another December hit me.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO03XZxE_tzf5iu3ZaK_5hj_NePGCPw_dX7T1Csc1NugeNHN4j5FhVpjm9EYaDpUq5_SeI_sGN1lB5gcXJcOVHwES5jloFTjXyNnf4fBvARcU6-8mgy74cHEl-Gm7HtFBvAVukfgOMOx0/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO03XZxE_tzf5iu3ZaK_5hj_NePGCPw_dX7T1Csc1NugeNHN4j5FhVpjm9EYaDpUq5_SeI_sGN1lB5gcXJcOVHwES5jloFTjXyNnf4fBvARcU6-8mgy74cHEl-Gm7HtFBvAVukfgOMOx0/s640/IMG_0559.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>First glimpse of the <span style="font-size: small;">giant San<span style="font-size: small;">ta<span style="font-size: small;">, overlooking the European market </span>in front of Manchester's Town Hall. </span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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The warmth of the festive season seeped
right under my skin with that first sip of mulled wine, <b>rousing the kid
who still lives inside me from her eleven month slumber.</b> The season of goodwill has come
round again, and I intend to enjoy every waking minute of it in a gluhwein glow.<br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLLeXOzcCo8-bHgYCdeep6lPcNFJIsI7-3XC4Lut-mnvCxW8NrqhDj17o_1FJV_Ax5_RuEuz13mGw4FNo1doYd7UIF1kXP0uyktWQSSP-yfleZ4R_mdggdDdsaPiqi-tcvK2Q_UVnuck/s1600/mug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLLeXOzcCo8-bHgYCdeep6lPcNFJIsI7-3XC4Lut-mnvCxW8NrqhDj17o_1FJV_Ax5_RuEuz13mGw4FNo1doYd7UIF1kXP0uyktWQSSP-yfleZ4R_mdggdDdsaPiqi-tcvK2Q_UVnuck/s640/mug.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My first sip of Christmas in this year<span style="font-size: small;">'s souvenir mug</span></i></span></td></tr>
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The markets make a clear statement that Manchester just loves Christmas, <b>and their annual appe<span style="font-size: small;">a</span>rance is a wonderful opportunity to soak up a bit of that festive spirit,</b> or to buy quirky gifts which are just that bit more unique.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoBYpMX0dntS_tl7vfzPFbQn-c2cufC81WpcMh2nvxGouEZRebHy8A4YuVoIHmlRLI_RvBGnVRkYcPc52qMPGH_mLeRcc-EN0HAOm78O0ifsP5_MD2rU7jrmBia6CAqIU2M1A88W4G0k/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoBYpMX0dntS_tl7vfzPFbQn-c2cufC81WpcMh2nvxGouEZRebHy8A4YuVoIHmlRLI_RvBGnVRkYcPc52qMPGH_mLeRcc-EN0HAOm78O0ifsP5_MD2rU7jrmBia6CAqIU2M1A88W4G0k/s640/IMG_0564.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">F<span style="font-size: small;">abulously</span></span> festive hand made tree decorations <span style="font-size: small;">for sale <span style="font-size: small;">on</span> one of the many stalls</span></i></span></td></tr>
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We go to the <b>Manchester Christmas Markets</b> every year. It would be wrong not to. Sometimes it can be a battleground of eager crowds, <b>but a couple of Christmas drinks generally mean you just sway along with the odd shove.</b> It's worth it.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yUE1j7xduCYxTS7oi1yilF9Y2LuUjGsanj-WtPTc101tHSf4WdZvMwQ-Cz4A1h3Ohkh4RRh7l2orrJLGYoKNRWswWmZcOMGOqUez4mqQfP0mRqYNrAP9J1JfAIdwWMa7cVsCGSSleOw/s1600/IMG_0556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yUE1j7xduCYxTS7oi1yilF9Y2LuUjGsanj-WtPTc101tHSf4WdZvMwQ-Cz4A1h3Ohkh4RRh7l2orrJLGYoKNRWswWmZcOMGOqUez4mqQfP0mRqYNrAP9J1JfAIdwWMa7cVsCGSSleOw/s640/IMG_0556.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A view over the top of the market stall<span style="font-size: small;">s<span style="font-size: small;">. They <span style="font-size: small;">get more impressive every year.</span></span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<b>What started with a visit from a small group of German traders in 1998, </b>has snowballed into a vast array of festive feasting and shopping opportunities. Now you can find numerous markets, aside from the main European extravaganza in Albert Square, all over the city centre, <b>bringing a taste of Christmas to England's North West from all around Europe and beyond.</b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGEvEHDPdkCmmCMZC_kUMLvtiJPmXO1mzQaKcu5v-0xmz8xt_kBXP92uid-fYf4MdiCARPExUIF57Kjx0_aafa2z6sRnpDoUUpdWiKT0Lf4pQCKH8qmp7K65CZydOnNNyAxojCCAsM3E/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGEvEHDPdkCmmCMZC_kUMLvtiJPmXO1mzQaKcu5v-0xmz8xt_kBXP92uid-fYf4MdiCARPExUIF57Kjx0_aafa2z6sRnpDoUUpdWiKT0Lf4pQCKH8qmp7K65CZydOnNNyAxojCCAsM3E/s640/IMG_0563.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Bits and <span style="font-size: small;">bobs and baubles, all so much prettier than in the <span style="font-size: small;">High Street shops</span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<br />
We ambled our way around the various market locations, appetites growing with every step, so it's just as well there's no shortage of food options. It was difficult to choose between <b>bratwurst, paella or goulash.</b> Not to mention some more traditionally British options,<b> like good old Lancashire hotpot. </b>And then there was the sweet stuff. Crepes, waffles, chocolates and strudel. <b>Winter foodie heaven.</b> All washed down with whichever version of mulled wine you fancied. </div>
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Me? <b>Well, I had a mug of the traditional German gluhwein to start</b> (complete with a healthy slug of rum - <i>purely</i> to fend of the cold, you understand), then I came over all Parisian as we strolled cheeks-a-glow back across town, <b>taking in a taste of vin chaud</b> after sauntering through the French market.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNddZjQ2-lyOExAq-WinYdyFwxT43Czutn_onqS2Ct_0CgJ-3xCLrDuP3fcpUOehSfTeKugbqLRlbbxhHSohppSHc2p4w0PtIP0xGcbRmPFFa3mTQphaSysx8u14YAn3h7WqBiIhJE_A/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNddZjQ2-lyOExAq-WinYdyFwxT43Czutn_onqS2Ct_0CgJ-3xCLrDuP3fcpUOehSfTeKugbqLRlbbxhHSohppSHc2p4w0PtIP0xGcbRmPFFa3mTQphaSysx8u14YAn3h7WqBiIhJE_A/s640/IMG_0557.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A little bi<span style="font-size: small;">t of Paris<span style="font-size: small;"> comes to upmarket King Street</span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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And if hot, spicy red wine isn't your thing, there was beer galore and almost every take on coffee and hot chocolate you could think of. <b>Something for every festive fancy.</b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd2cPW2A-dfoM1iksTZuyWlhQTprqPELq8iXD6FYi8Z9zPNimTgevu9OHsoSilZbEc0CKTgMzMbyl5bhXWXOP3OO17JCfX_jsR38thglT7mK_-aZb10HMqUbA3A3vlTypwU1NtdB7aKk/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd2cPW2A-dfoM1iksTZuyWlhQTprqPELq8iXD6FYi8Z9zPNimTgevu9OHsoSilZbEc0CKTgMzMbyl5bhXWXOP3OO17JCfX_jsR38thglT7mK_-aZb10HMqUbA3A3vlTypwU1NtdB7aKk/s640/IMG_0567.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The strudel I only wish I had room for, after my mammoth serving of <span style="font-size: small;">paella</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<b>The Manchester Christmas Markets have become something of a local institution</b> and a magnet for visitors to the city. So if you're planning a stint in the UK around the Christmas holidays, or you can hop on a train or jump in your car to get here, give it a try.<br />
<br />
You might miss this year, <b>but if 2012 is anything to go by, next year already promisies to pack a full-on, festive punch.</b><br />
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<b><i>For more detailed information on the markets, facts and details on how to get to Manchester <a href="http://www.visitmanchester.com/articles/shopping/christmas-markets/" target="_blank">click here for the Visit Manchester website.</a></i> </b><br />
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<i>Are you planning on any Christmas market action? And have you been to any of the other markets in the UK? Let me know in the comments!</i><b> </b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-13850152133856290882012-11-30T20:38:00.000+00:002012-11-30T21:24:05.680+00:00Weekend Picture Pick: Mathew Street, LiverpoolThis photo comes from the famous <b>Mathew Street</b>; birthplace of <b>The Beatles</b>, in <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/a-walk-around-liverpools-waterfront.html" target="_blank">Liverpool</a>.<br />
<br />
I've no doubt that the party is already in full swing down there right now, despite the bitter bite of this freezing November night.<br />
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<b>The weather never stops a native Liverpudlian from glamming up and painting the town red!</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FQAREf65tQO4MACixi9pdbAJCJYBZx6TlUk-SM3iDqABXMOX21Xe7Z6-R5NaEkfs4O50vLZoNS4RdB-N82D-KDHuvqTjJRJNOAXgLHC57iJG1aC71HnzyYiOJXDf0jWLvYBeHOUMnCk/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FQAREf65tQO4MACixi9pdbAJCJYBZx6TlUk-SM3iDqABXMOX21Xe7Z6-R5NaEkfs4O50vLZoNS4RdB-N82D-KDHuvqTjJRJNOAXgLHC57iJG1aC71HnzyYiOJXDf0jWLvYBeHOUMnCk/s640/IMG_0543.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The famous John Lennon<span style="font-size: small;"> statue</span></i></span></td></tr>
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Have you ever <b>danced the night away</b> in this part of Liverpool?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047200110634650030.post-20255857420220855272012-11-28T18:48:00.000+00:002012-11-28T18:49:26.835+00:00Verona's Secrets<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfh7sQlr2Xp5anZG0tOmNOchDlDkmPbh_6fpCGjYgNhj6WGzsKegrN2C8mrGgn4NmQ35NvNBx9rT9eJS8KhLJvGt93fHVQjU17rQWHfkQx162YiCT_lv8VtVYeAw1ZqVm0nk709URRO0/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfh7sQlr2Xp5anZG0tOmNOchDlDkmPbh_6fpCGjYgNhj6WGzsKegrN2C8mrGgn4NmQ35NvNBx9rT9eJS8KhLJvGt93fHVQjU17rQWHfkQx162YiCT_lv8VtVYeAw1ZqVm0nk709URRO0/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a>My recent trip to <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/in-fair-verona.html" target="_blank">Verona</a> presented me with so much to see that it meant one
post alone was never going to cut it. Yes, there were the obligatory
sights, like <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/11/postcards-from-juliet_24.html" target="_blank">Juliet's Balcony</a>, <b>but there was so much to be gained from
merely wandering the streets in this city.</b></div>
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If you've
visited this blog before, you'll know I'm always a fan of <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/09/visit-new-citythe-one-you-live-in.html" target="_blank">just looking up</a>, and never has it given me more to enjoy than in Verona.</div>
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<b>Decorations adorning buildings and windows were a delight to admire.</b> And
it doesn't matter if I can't tell you where or when I saw each one
here, because they are Verona's secrets. And if you visit (which I hope you will), you're bound to spot more than a few of your own. So
take a sneak peak...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc1G7-UMc1F9_0Wle2PDYCdtecqOrLaT-maA5cLWiAqxca31PsCnL_I_Jq2nsOvJUkyE7UaOfxZJ-852Qf_lpx6sdcGyvQ7xHdTgOcxgpO2guoRmNZ5yd3emwc-3Ys-_13MAnYKGzuEg/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc1G7-UMc1F9_0Wle2PDYCdtecqOrLaT-maA5cLWiAqxca31PsCnL_I_Jq2nsOvJUkyE7UaOfxZJ-852Qf_lpx6sdcGyvQ7xHdTgOcxgpO2guoRmNZ5yd3emwc-3Ys-_13MAnYKGzuEg/s640/IMG_0270.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Verona's Louis Vuitton shop<span style="font-size: small;">;</span> mo<span style="font-size: small;">re to look at th<span style="font-size: small;">an just<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> designer </span>window displays</span></span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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Much like in <a href="http://www.needanotherholiday.com/2012/09/by-all-means-rome.html" target="_blank">Rome</a>, there are so many shrines of devotion to the Virgin Mary in Verona. <b>You'll find them anywhere and everywhere, in unexpected locations.</b> They are works of art in their own right and a reminder of the influence of religion, in the best possible way. You can't set out looking for these, but<b> keep your eyes open and you'll be rewarded.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfh7sQlr2Xp5anZG0tOmNOchDlDkmPbh_6fpCGjYgNhj6WGzsKegrN2C8mrGgn4NmQ35NvNBx9rT9eJS8KhLJvGt93fHVQjU17rQWHfkQx162YiCT_lv8VtVYeAw1ZqVm0nk709URRO0/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJq5KO3pq3egHDD98jXA_UBbWyDf38xpicVQV9kVY3mfXgO40jkXn3Hcq8YJ9HKusy75TAuVJWWA7oaxhrbvlhDctIvz4UzWhXN3BQAiUpFK4Tt-3izz6Zx4PunM4EROjRSv2kxVR6DY/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJq5KO3pq3egHDD98jXA_UBbWyDf38xpicVQV9kVY3mfXgO40jkXn3Hcq8YJ9HKusy75TAuVJWWA7oaxhrbvlhDctIvz4UzWhXN3BQAiUpFK4Tt-3izz6Zx4PunM4EROjRSv2kxVR6DY/s640/IMG_0265.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Turning a corner an<span style="font-size: small;">d finding a Secret Mary was one of the best things about roaming Verona's <span style="font-size: small;">streets</span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4fE5MfLMGhE8IRphjhAK8iUlYjQR38-3JnF3QR6az4Rzgod-KOeT37cS8H4f6DIqqEVe1RuvHGyjgqGOZOXgXcsHmZ-epNdMYbWP2Z0lCkm9JuP4qJVSKPqttU8jDQtQXMuUYE676lU/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4fE5MfLMGhE8IRphjhAK8iUlYjQR38-3JnF3QR6az4Rzgod-KOeT37cS8H4f6DIqqEVe1RuvHGyjgqGOZOXgXcsHmZ-epNdMYbWP2Z0lCkm9JuP4qJVSKPqttU8jDQtQXMuUYE676lU/s640/IMG_0108.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>These shrines were everywh<span style="font-size: small;">ere, still beaut<span style="font-size: small;">i<span style="font-size: small;">ful even when fading with age</span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_yF1ZCrXdXMfmdZQ2BXkVa3apOEbDrRxchsefJKGPKEhl99fqtu5T2Wq1FCQozX4N62LgM4UaVt61ikCRL6CkTIdPrl0i73iBRUJTnKSpuEE8Ctlg8IYRUuBAmdQ0oyfSgV3OUlzqNM/s1600/IMG_0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_yF1ZCrXdXMfmdZQ2BXkVa3apOEbDrRxchsefJKGPKEhl99fqtu5T2Wq1FCQozX4N62LgM4UaVt61ikCRL6CkTIdPrl0i73iBRUJTnKSpuEE8Ctlg8IYRUuBAmdQ0oyfSgV3OUlzqNM/s640/IMG_0446.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">It was special to see that some were so well tended to, even as people just went by, busy with their dail<span style="font-size: small;">y lives</span></span></i></td></tr>
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The more city breaks I go on, <b>the more I realise that my favourite sights are often not on the must-see list, </b>and half the time I don't even know what I'm looking at, I just know that I like it. And that's enough. So I've decided... we should all set aside a day, or at least a couple of hours, whichever city we're in, to walk about, camera at the ready.<b> You never know what you'll find.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1HNXDgMBz2UiuHvpDBCSv0MjxZ1KoTr8LON_-G7asywe3whXMchkwPajHPYqR7uJpYm6o2NxaPUyBbjIxUP9M6kdvLZk8lUNZPhh_LIJzhOX9IwCwaOdT_PevNHPq7TJ_-p156sjBss/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1HNXDgMBz2UiuHvpDBCSv0MjxZ1KoTr8LON_-G7asywe3whXMchkwPajHPYqR7uJpYm6o2NxaPUyBbjIxUP9M6kdvLZk8lUNZPhh_LIJzhOX9IwCwaOdT_PevNHPq7TJ_-p156sjBss/s640/IMG_0350.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This made me think about falling asleep on the job (<span style="font-size: small;">of course, I'd never do tha<span style="font-size: small;">t<span style="font-size: small;">)!</span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXObh4GaOuYpV2snagSHPo1C_SFNdmkhUK_DQX0rH8MLBEkBf_O2Q9Oal9RtTxkfuvAlTK3cBkAGGrAaRotdZLBMkA0je_EiqgCCHI2AQ-v-KSmbXvxbYYMJhlZ1OAc-rUPa4QGg94PKc/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXObh4GaOuYpV2snagSHPo1C_SFNdmkhUK_DQX0rH8MLBEkBf_O2Q9Oal9RtTxkfuvAlTK3cBkAGGrAaRotdZLBMkA0je_EiqgCCHI2AQ-v-KSmbXvxbYYMJhlZ1OAc-rUPa4QGg94PKc/s640/IMG_0359.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Captivating <span style="font-size: small;">c</span>olours are just one thing to <span style="font-size: small;">admire</span> on this building</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOs4657O1xXoscHb2pvX3-kxpZg5IfaLOSu8AcYRWUPUa9G5Lc-NA5mVzzAHudgHxPivTQuSLc6Zf1cdGTiqMPPk4G5A13RD0vN941_CljddYl8JwmmnEER6k62JMrFiTgc5N2wBMCnA/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOs4657O1xXoscHb2pvX3-kxpZg5IfaLOSu8AcYRWUPUa9G5Lc-NA5mVzzAHudgHxPivTQuSLc6Zf1cdGTiqMPPk4G5A13RD0vN941_CljddYl8JwmmnEER6k62JMrFiTgc5N2wBMCnA/s640/IMG_0373.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I loved the serene look of this sculpture, sit<span style="font-size: small;">ting peacefully</span> <span style="font-size: small;">above a doorway</span></span></i></td></tr>
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So remember, if you go to Verona, or anywhere else, <b>make sure you go searching for the secret sights.</b><br />
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<i>What's your favourite city for secret sights so far? Use the comments to let me know. I'd love to hear from you!</i><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429616306029790406noreply@blogger.com4